Strapless covering for baseball base

ABSTRACT

A baseball base having a plate, a filler, and a cover which completely surrounds the filler except over a portion of the bottom, the inner edges of said cover being connected to the plate, there being no straps or buckles or fastening means exposed to the baseball players.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Bruce R. Wyble Sikeston, Mo.

[21] Appl. No. 774,251

[22] Filed Nov. 8, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 {73] Assignee Caproco, Inc. St. Louis, Mo.

[54] STRAPLESS COVERING FOR BASEBALL BASE 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/25 [51] Int. Cl A63b 69/40 [50] Field ofSearch'. 273/25 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 3,181,863 5/1965 Nellermoe 273/25 3,204,958 9/1965 Velasquez 273/25 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown Attorney-Gravely, Lieder & Woodruff ABSTRACT: A baseball base having a plate, a filler, and a cover which completely surrounds the filler except over a por tion of the bottom, the inner edges of said cover being connected to the plate, there being no straps or buckles or fastening means exposed to the baseball players.

- PATENTEU man 19m dwelt/75,

STRAIPLESS COVERING FOR BASEBALL BASE This invention relates to a baseball base, and more particularly, to an improved baseball base which is easily mounted in proper position and which has a replaceable cover. As used herein, the term baseball bases includes all forms of bases, whether used for baseball or softball or other forms of ball.

in the past, baseball bases have been made with vertical posts which fit in a well or anchor in the ground. However, these had covers which were difficult to replace or had straps that were expensive, dangerous, and difficult to secure.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a baseball base in which the securing means are fastened only at the bottom inwardly of the edges and within the periphery of the base, so as not to be exposed or visible when the base is in use. Another object is to provide a replaceable base cover in which connecting means are secured along the central portion of the inturned flanges and extend inwardly toward a plate to which they are connected. Another object is to provide a plate having openings which are adapted to receive the connecting means of a base cover. Another object is to provide a baseball base in which the cover is connected to means so as to maintain the cover and base in a slightly curved condition sothat the center of the base will be higher than the sides thereof, as called for in the rules of baseball.

These and other objects and advantages willbecome apparent hereinafter.

The invention comprises a baseball base having no securing straps and having a replaceable cover secured to a plate solely under the base, said plate having means adapted to receive connecting means from the cover, said plate and said cover having a filler positioned therebetween.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and wherein like numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FlG. l is a perspective view of the top of a baseball base embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the underside of my assembled'baseball base, with the anchor which fits into the ground shown therebelow;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of said assembled baseball base;

H6. 4 is a top perspective view of the filler which fits within said baseball base;

HO. 5 is a top plan view of plate itself showing the upper surface which fits against the bottom of the filler; and

H6. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of PEG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a baseball base B having a plate P, a filler F, and a replaceable cover C which can be replaced when damaged, worn, or dirty. These three basic parts are assembled together and form a base B or unit which is simply placed over an anchor A which has been previously mounted in the ground at the exact position where a base is to be located on a baseball field. The anchor A has a vertical tubular column 1, preferably square in cross section with a hollow center 2, and a transverse bar 3 mounted near the bottom thereof to prevent the anchor A from rotating after it has been sunk into the ground at first, second, and third bases, either in rock, or concrete, or compacted dirt. The anchor A is preferably made from metal.

The plate P comprises a tubular member or post 4,-

each side 11! to provide-rounded edges 12. Each comer is truncated, as at 13, so as to avoid any sharp points or edges. Openings M are provided near each truncated corner l3 for receiving connecting means or hooks, as will be explained later. The rounded edges 12 prevent the platform 6 from digging into the filler F.

The filler F has a covering 15 and filler material 16 therein. The filler material 16 may be any suitable filler material, but preferably is polyurethane foam which is ground up and stuffed into the covering 15. The covering 15 of the filler F has a bottom 17, preferably made from a vinyl laminated nylon or other plastic material, which keeps moisture from the ground from soaking into the base B. The top 18 of the filler F is canvas duck or other porous material which allows the filler F or top 18 thereof, to breathe so as to let air out when a baseball player jumps on or slides into the base B. The sides 19 of the filler F may be any material, but preferably they are the same as the top material, which is canvas duck. The filler F is properly dimensioned to receive the cover C, so that the final base B is of the official size for Major League play (l5" l 5"X3") or for Little League Play l4" l4 2"). The filler F is a completely enclosed self-contained unit whose top portion is adapted to breathe and whose bottom 17 is made from waterproof material since the bottom 17 rests upon the ground as well as on the platform 6. The filler F is completely free of buckles or straps or any other kinds offastening means. The covering 15 is porous or has openings therein.

The cover C receivesthe filler F. The cover C has a top surface 20, side surfaces 21 and inwardly extending flanges 22 whose inner edges 23 are rebent and stitched with a cord 24 therein. The top surface 20 is made from rugged vinyl laminated nylon with a cloth backed ,foam material which is heat sealable to the inner surface of the cover C. The top surface 20 may have a simulated quilting 25 and strap 26 design thereon. The cord or web 24 surrounds the large opening 27 formed by the inner edges 23 of the flanges 22. Each of the four flanges 22 is provided with an inwardly extending tab 28 having slanted side edges 29. The tabs 28 may be connected to the central portions of the flanges 22 by rivets 30 and stitching 31. The tabs 28 extend inwardly toward the center or central axis 7 of the base B. Each tab 28 is provided with a transverse opening 32 formed by rebending the tab 28 and fastening the rebent portion to the tab, such as by rivets 33. Each opening 32 receives a hook member 34 having a central portion or connector 35. inwardly extending hooks 36 are connected to the ends of the connectors 35. The books 36 are adapted to be received in the openings 14 within the plate P. The two spaced hooks 36 connected to each tab 28 draw the cover C tightly toward the platform 6 around the entire periphery of the base. This arrangement gives a unitary assembly which is free from wiggle.

The cover C is dimensioned to fit tightly over the filler F to give a bow to the base B, which under Major League rules should be 3 high along the sides and 5" high in the middle. The cover C is dimensioned so that pressure must be exerted in order to hook the hooks 36 into the openings M, which pressure tends to bow the filler F slightly and force the platform 6 into the bottom 17 of the filler F. it is important to have the edges 12 of the platform 6 rounded so that they do not bite into or damage the bottom 17 of the filler F. With the filler F so assembled between the cover C and the plate P and with the base B positioned over the anchor A, no hooks or fastening means are visible. The tabs 28 and the hooks 36 are completely hidden from view and are on the underside of the base B within the periphery of the sides 21 and adjacent to and in contact with the ground.

This construction provides a base which withstands the tremendous impact forces which are placed upon it when a baseball player slides into or jumps on the base. The vinyl laminated nylon cover C withstands the sharp spikes of playersv and does not tear or rip or, puncture. The top surface 20 of the cover C is completely stitchless for longer life. This cover C resists moisture and remains white. It can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. The hooks 36 are made from steel and are of such a design as to prevent work hardening becoming brittle so as to prevent breaking off. The tabs 28 are secured to the flanges 22 by rivets and/or sewing, since these tabs 28 also receive great pressures when a player slides into a base.

The present construction tends to absorb any force exerted on the base, such as when a ball player slides into one side of the bag, as when stealing second base or third base. When the player's foot strikes the side 21, the force tends to move the side 21 and the tab 28 toward the platform 6 and the central axis 7, and these parts are free to so move within limits. If the sides 21 and tabs 28 do not absorb all of the force, the hooks 36 connected to said tab 28 are free to move forwardly slightly, thereby relieving any pressures or forces on said members.

The base B may be removed easily simply by pulling it up from the anchor A. The cover C can be wiped off or cleaned or can then be replaced with a new cover C. This is done by removing the hooks 36 on the cover C from the openings 14 in the plate P. A new cover C can be applied as previously described.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A baseball base comprising a plate, a cover connected to said plate, and a filler positioned between said plate and said cover, said filler having a porous upper covering and a waterproof bottom, said cover having a top wall and four sidewalls free from buckles and straps, said sidewalls each having an intumed flange thereon throughout the length of each sidewall which partially extends under said filler, connecting means connected to said intumed flanges and adapted to be connected to connecting means on said plate, each of said inturned flanges having a tab thereon forming part of said connecting means, said connecting means being positioned completely under said base when said base is in its playing position, said plate having a hollow post extending downwardly therefrom which is adapted to be positioned on an anchor.

2. The base set forth in claim 1 wherein said porous upper covering permits air to be expelled from within said filler and the bottom of said filler and said cover are made from waterproof vinyl laminated nylon material.

3. The base set forth in claim 1 wherein the means on said plate for receiving the connecting means comprises a plurality of openings in said plate inwardly of the edges thereof.

4. The base set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of openings comprises one opening inwardly of each comer of the plate, each of said openings adapted to receive two hooks connected to the cover.

5. The base set forth in claim 3 wherein said connecting means includes two hooks, one of said hooks being positioned in the same hole as one of the hooks from the next adjacent tab. 

1. A baseball base comprising a plate, a cover connected to said plate, and a filler positioned between said plate and said cover, said filler having a porous upper covering and a waterproof bottom, said cover having a top wall and four sidewalls free from buckles and straps, said sidewalls each having an inturned flange thereon throughout the length of each sidewall which partially extends under said filler, connecting means connected to said inturned flanges and adapted to be connected to connecting means on said plate, each of said inturned flanges having a tab thereon forming part of said connecting means, said connecting means being positioned completely under said base when said base is in its playing position, said plate having a hollow post extending downwardly therefrom which is adapted to be positioned on an anchor.
 2. The base set forth in claim 1 wherein said porous upper covering permits air to be expelled from within said filler and the bottom of said filler and said cover are made from waterproof vinyl laminated nylon material.
 3. The base set forth in claim 1 wherein the means on said plate for receiving the connecting means comprises a plurality of openings in said plate inwardly of the edges thereof.
 4. The base set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of openings comprises one opening inwardly of each corner of the plate, each of said openings adapted to receive two hooks connected to the cover.
 5. The base set forth in claim 3 wherein said connecting means includes two hooks, one of said hooks being positioned in the same hole as one of the hooks from the next adjacent tab. 